Gov. Andrew Cuomo's appointment of John Hendrickson as NYRA's special adviser for Saratoga Race Course got my attention. Cuomo said Hendrickson will be an advocate for Saratoga's interests.

"Saratoga is the people's track; the people own it," said Hendrickson, husband of Marylou Whitney and manager of the socialite's stables. Hendrickson's comment took me back to the '60s, when I first covered the annual thoroughbred meet.

Back then, I recall the Union Avenue layout was a staid venue with an older, somewhat elite clientele and kid-free. The meet lasted just 24 days. The daily attendance and handle figures were mediocre to poor.

In more recent times, the historic horse plant came to life. NYRA management and PR guru Ed Lewi started catering to younger patrons. Picnic tables galore and kiddie play areas sprouted on the hallowed, sacred grounds.

A variety of food and drink stands and free live musical groups sprang up forming a carnival midway of sorts. Many of the older track regulars resented the transition.

I heard enough of them say the fabled track had been converted to a county fair. Maybe so, but the attendance and handle figures started going through the roof. Those numbers are vital to keep the place perking.

Since the patron profile changed, I've noticed the young, beer-guzzling race-goers in short pants and the aging, dressed-to-the-nines, highbrow crowd are getting along fine. And the racing shrine has never seen better days.

Hendrickson is right. Saratoga is truly the people's track.

GOP's a bust

In recent times, Democrats have booted Republicans out of the vast majority of elected positions in Schenectady County.

Democrats own six of seven City Council seats and the mayor's office. They also have a stranglehold 14-to-1 County Legislature majority. And the big towns of Rotterdam and Niskayuna are run by the Dems.

With the exception of Republican County Court Judge Karen Drago, countywide elected positions of district attorney, sheriff, county clerk, surrogate and Family Court judges are all held by Democrats.

Unlike those old Western movies when the cavalry comes to the rescue of settlers fighting off Indians, there appears to be no help on the way to aid surrounded Republicans.

The "Octoberbust" has never been a big success at the gate. However, this year, GOP regulars privately concede the event held at the Glen Sanders Mansion earlier this month was a colossal flop.

Only about 40 or so mainly longtime GOPers showed up, according to party faithful I spoke with.

Considering it was a countywide event, that was an awful showing.

These same people said they don't foresee a Republican comeback any time soon.

I recall way back when Mayor Gary McCarthy was county chairman. He always welcomed youth to become active in what he called "the big tent party," always with room for more.

At the same time, GOP leaders, power and control freaks, dissuaded young activists. They had no tent.

Proposed hike was petty

That proposed increased charge for birth and death certificates defeated by the City Council last week had ignited the ire of many folks. The proposal called for doubling the charge to $20 for each copy if you wanted the certificates upon request. If you were able to wait a couple weeks, the existing $10 tax stayed the same.

Among the aggravated was Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, who launched his political career as a Schenectady councilman about 35 years ago. He labeled the increases as petty and preposterous.

"Many of us can remember well when Schenectady was commonly referred to as the city that "Lights and Hauls the World," Tedisco said when learning about the potential rate stickup.

He said if the proposal had been approved, Schenectady would have become known as the city that increases your cost of "coming and going — from cradle to grave."

If it was $3M back then ...

Many no doubt are amazed at the retrieval capability of Google. While searching for details about a current proposal for an eight-floor hotel in downtown Lake George I got a surprise.

In the huge mix of Lake George information I found a story regarding the Prospect Mountain Highway I wrote way back in 1968.

"The highway offers a splendid panorama including a 100-mile northern look at the Adirondacks,'' the story said. "Forest rangers told me from the fire tower the dome of the state Capitol is visible.''

I recall a tip that the new highway construction was just about to be completed sent me to the location at the south end of Lake George.

While talking with road workers for the Lane Construction Co., I learned I had a "small world connection" to the firm's project engineer — the late Dave Santos.

Santos was an Amsterdam High basketball whiz who went on to become a record-breaking 1963 seasonal high scorer at Union College. I had covered Santos' heroics during my days as a sportswriter.

Incidentally, his Union record was later shattered by Jim Tedisco, who went from sports greatness to an assemblyman career of 30 years and ticking.

It was interesting to discover the six-mile highway that took three years to complete cost only $3 million. I couldn't help wonder — 44 years later — how much the highway construction price tag would be today.

A tip of the press hat

How about a 21-gun salute for Carl Strock, who earlier this month announced he was retiring after a 25-year career as a local columnist for The Daily Gazette.

No doubt the news saddened some readers, and others are probably doing cartwheels.

If a reader agrees with a columnist, that writer is a wise judge always on the right side of controversial issues. If a reader disagrees with the columnist, the writer is often labeled a sap, unfair and negative.

Those conclusions are based on my own nearly 60 years in the news business.

Strock was always riding shotgun for the preliterate looking to unveil the hidden truths about rogue cops, unsavory politicians, rascals in private business ventures, government bureaucrats and assorted other scoundrels.

I've known Strock throughout his quarter-century on the beat. However, during that span we've never socialized, not even for a coffee or a beer, so I believe my assessment of him is fair.

I'm going to miss his deep inquiries into political/government swamp and his clever tail-twisting. No question, the region is losing one of its premier watchdogs.